The emerging green economy is diverse and widespread. To varying degrees, every state is witnessing growth in some green industry segment and, more often than not, this business growth is building off of existing strengths in the state. Familiar products and services are finding new uses or are taking new forms in response to new market demands. Pennsylvania is among the states with the highest number of green jobs. Advanced workforce policies and wise investments have made the state a national leader in creating and fostering a green economy.
Pennsylvania's green jobs are located, primarily, in five industry sectors:
- Energy Efficiency (sample employers: civil engineering consultants and building construction contractors)
- Renewable Energy (sample employers: wind turbine builders and electric utility companies)
- Clean Transportation (sample employers: aircraft manufacturers and transportation management companies)
- Pollution Prevention & Environmental Cleanup (sample enployers: scientific research facilities and water treatment builders)
- Agriculture & Resource Conservation (sample employers: corn farms and energy consulting companies)
Green jobs fall into three categories:
- Emerging: including occupations such as energy auditors of building and other systems, wind technicians working with wind turbines, geothermal installers, solar panel installers
- Evolving: including occupations such as construction workers skilled in commercial building, who are mastering new skills allowing them to become expert conservation retrofitters
- Traditional: including occupations such as construction laborers working on green building job sites, machinists making parts for wind turbines, refuse and recyclable materials collectors
As policy makers implement new standards (e.g. building efficiency standards, renewable portfolio standards), incentives and regulations, new business opportunities emerge to meet growing demand. Below are several resources for teachers to review to learn more about Pennsylvania's green technology.
Green in the Classroom:
Green Career and Technical Education Resources:
- Compressed Natural Gas System Conversion (PDF) - Existing gasoline-fueled vehicles can be retrofitted with a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) system conversion. Qualified and trained technicians are needed for installations in accordance with the Vehicular Fuel Systems Code of the National Fire Protection Association. The major tasks during installation are: mounting the CNG fuel tank; installing the CNG regulator; installing the CNG fuel line; connecting the CNG system wiring; installing the CNG carburetor; filling the CNG fuel tank; and testing and adjusting the system.
For more information. go to the MAVCC Website. MAVCC, of which Pennsylvania is a member, is a leading provider of career and technical instructional materials that help prepare students for a diverse, high-performance workforce.
- Framework of Competencies for the Energy Generation, Transmission and Distribution Industry (PDF) - Developed by the Center for Energy Workforce Development, includes Personal Effectiveness Competencies, Academic Competencies, Workplace Competencies, Industry-Wide Technical Competencies, and Industry-Specific Technical Competencies.
- Green Living Objectives (PDF) - Energy conservation, daily green living, and green purchase decisions need to be integrated into all aspects of one's home and career.
For more information. go to the MAVCC Website. MAVCC, of which Pennsylvania is a member, is a leading provider of career and technical instructional materials that help prepare students for a diverse, high-performance workforce.
- Integrating Sustainability Into Your POS: Aspiring Toward Green (PDF) - PowerPoint presentation given by Dennis Malosky, Director Sustainable Engineering & Development, at a Programs of Study Workshop.
- Introduction to Wind Energy, Module 1 (PDF) - Developed by the Multistate Academic and Vocational Curriculum Consortium, Inc., includes learning activities, objectives and information sheet, student supplements, and assignment sheets.
- The Pennsylvania Green Jobs Report (PDF) - Prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, includes information on green policies and investments, occupations, industries, and research.
- Pennsylvania: Profile of the Green Economy (PDF) - Developed by Collaborative Economics, Inc., as commissioned by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, designed to help each state with decisions about workforce, economics, and energy development opportunities and strategies.
- Preparing the Worforce for a "Green Jobs" Economy (PDF) - Researched by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, identifies types of jobs and skills that will be in demand in the green future, factors that are driving the new energy economy and its growing workforce, strategies for building competitive, flexible workforce systems, and highlights best practices around the nation.
- Programs of Study Analysis (PDF) - Crosswalk of CIP/SOC codes and titles, program of study status, and green occupation designation.
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